I think I am saying the right things, but . . .

“I know what I want to say, but I just don’t know how to say it”

“I think I am saying the right things, but I’m not getting the response that I want”

When preparing for a job interview, have you ever thought like this?

If that’s how you felt, then you may want to consider few points.

Practice speaking out loud

Thoughts may be clear in your mind, but when you express them, they may be less clear to your interlocutor. Practicing either in the mirror or with friends, will make you more comfortable with what you want to say and how you say it. Should you decide to rehears with a friend, solicit feedback: what did your friend understand? Did you sound convincing? . . . you can get a lot more valuable and actionable input!

Practice speaking clearly and effectively

The way you talk about your competences, your work experience, who you are, are as important as the nature of your competences, your experience and the essence of who you are. Think that organisations hire their management team and their talents not only for what they know, but also for their ability to effectively communicate what they know, and for convincing.

Practice speaking concisely

“Can you briefly present yourself?”. No one likes to listen to a 5-minute answer to a 5-word question.  A clear, concise message shows confidence in what you know and in what you want to communicate. If your interlocutor wants to know more, he can ask for it.

Practice active listening

Do you give your full attention when you are receiving information about the company and the position you applied for? Don’t forget that one cannot listen well if he is thinking of what to say next.

Practice connecting you to the job

Think about the job you are applying for, your skills and competences, and how they match. Then, practice explaining how they match, where are the gaps and how you can fill them. Few candidates meet all job requirements, and that’s fine. Just make sure you are prepared to answer questions about this.

Practice: the key word

As the old adage says “Practice makes perfect”. You may debate on what makes your training optimal for your success: how much time you want to dedicate to it, the type of practice you select, with whom you practice. But one thing is clear: training improves performance.

Another tip? Film yourself while practicing answering expected and probable interview questions and increase your self-awareness